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Singapore Marathon Preview - Mekonnen and Birir among the field

2005-12-03

It’s styled as the Greatest Race on Earth, but it’s
certainly one of the toughest. Sunday morning’s Singapore Marathon is
the
second in a four-race series sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank,
which began
in Nairobi a month ago, and culminates in Mumbai and Hong Kong in the
New Year. That’s to say, one race at altitude, and three in the
sort of heat and humidity that usually send Singapore residents and
tourists alike scurrying for the
air-conditioned shopping malls.

But four years of bringing elite marathoners to the
island-nation have persuaded over six thousand Singaporeans and ex-pats out
onto the streets to trot along behind such luminaries as 1992 Olympic
steeplechase champion, Matthew Birir of Kenya, and one-time world leader in the
marathon, Abebe Mekonnen of Ethiopia.

That pair may have seen better days, but defending
champions, Kenyans Philip Tanui and Helen Cherono face the best fields ever
assembled here in Singapore. There are ten men who have beaten 2:10 hours, and eight woman who have
bettered 2:30 hours.

Tanui was drawn into distance running by the example
of his elder brother, Moses, winner of the 1991 world 10,000 metres title, and subsequently
one of the world’s leading marathoners. Moses is now retired, persuaded perhaps
by Philip’s marathon debut, victory in Rome 1999, in 2.07.54. Although he’s had a hard time reproducing that form,
the younger Tanui won a tight struggle here last year, only getting away from
previous year’s winner, compatriot John Kelai in the last two kilometres.

Conditions this year promise to be cooler than for
former marathons, but that still means around 20C (68F) at the 6am
start, and over 80% humidity. “I would welcome cooler conditions,” said
Tanui today (Friday), “I was very surprised by the humidity last year.
It’s a
much better field this year, but I know the course”.

Kelai is back again, but Tanui’s principal rival is
yet another Kenyan with a fast time to his name. Joseph Ngolepus ran 2.07.57 in
finishing third in London 2003. But it took the reigning and future Olympic
champion, Abera of Ethiopia and Baldini of Italy to beat him. Ngolepus won
another top marathon, Berlin in 2001, and also his previous outing this year, the Rock ‘n’ Roll
Marathon in San Diego in 2.11.04. “That was also hot and humid,” said
Ngolepus, “but I think this is tougher”. Ngolepus is in the same training group
as former women’s world record holder, Tegla Loroupe and winner of London and
New York, Joyce Chepchumba, who is the leading woman here in Singapore.

But Chepchumba will need all her guile to fend off
compatriot, Helen Cherono who won here last year, Gigi Roba of Ethiopia, who
ran 2.26.05 in Paris last year, and 19 year old Chinese, Wang Xiaoshu, all of
whom are ten years and more younger than Chepchumba, though she will have the
consolation of competing with another veteran, who also won London, Malgorzata
Sobanska of Poland.

Including half-marathon and 10k, there are over 21,000
entries this year.